WAUSAU - A former Wausau East High School employee has been charged with sexually assaulting a female student.

Kurtis Hornby, 46, was an audio/visual technician at Wausau East at the time the assault was alleged to have happened. Hornby is accused of touching the victim's breast in the school auditorium. Each time Hornby touched or tried to touch her, it would begin with a hug, according to the criminal complaint. Hornby would also move his hand down her spine and under the waistband of her pants, the complaint said.

The incident occurred between Nov. 1, 2016, and June 1, 2017, the complaint states. The student was 15 at the time.

Hornby appeared in court Friday on one charge of second-degree sexual assault of a child. He was summoned, not arrested, said Marathon County assistant district attorney Molly Lawrence. He was first interviewed by police Sept. 6, according to the complaint, which was filed Jan. 18.

Superintendent Michael Schwei said the Wausau School District was first notified of the incident Sept. 5 when the student's parents contacted Principal Bradley Peck with the allegations. Hornby was placed on administrative leave Sept. 6 and fired Sept. 15.

Schwei said Wausau East has taken measures to support students who might have been aware of the investigation or questioned as part of it.

Hornby is free on a $5,000 signature bond that prohibits him from unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 18, aside from his own children. He is scheduled to appear in court again Feb. 12.